Discouraging sun exposure for vitamin D benefits

Vitamin D is critical to healthy bones, but it does not need to be produced from the sun to be effective; sun exposure or tanning beds are not better sources of vitamin D than food or supplements.

Dr. Cassandra Claman

As dermatologists, we are very concerned that reports linking the health benefits of vitamin D to unprotected sun exposure may be misleading to the public about the real dangers of sun exposure, both the leading and most preventable cause of skin cancer.

Vitamin D is critical to healthy bones, and some research now suggests that maintaining higher levels than traditionally thought to be sufficient may offer additional health benefits. If you are concerned about getting enough vitamin D, the safe way to obtain it is through a healthy, balanced diet, vitamin D-fortified foods or supplements.

While vitamin D production may be one of the benefits of ultraviolet light exposure, the evidence of UV radiation causing skin cancer is overwhelming. Vitamin D does not need to be produced from the sun to be effective; sun exposure or tanning beds are not better sources of vitamin D than food or supplements.

The only thing sun exposure and tanning beds are better for is increasing your risk of skin cancer. Any individual or organization advocating intentional UV exposure as the preferred means of obtaining vitamin D is doing a tremendous disservice to the public.

Most people get enough incidental sun exposure during their daily activities to meet their vitamin D requirements. Maximum production of vitamin D occurs after brief exposure to UV radiation.

A fair-skinned person in Boston or New York in June around noon needs only two to five minutes of sun exposure. After this, any additional vitamin D that is produced by the body will not be stored for future use.